Journal of International Solidarity

A. Shantha

A podcast that explores current affairs and history relating to imperialism, the global south, gender, political economy, and people-to-people ties

  1. The Alliance of Sahel States: A New Chapter in African Development? (w/ Mikaela Erskog)

    JAN 11

    The Alliance of Sahel States: A New Chapter in African Development? (w/ Mikaela Erskog)

    In this episode, we look at the establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and where they fit in the history of African politics. We discuss the legacy of French colonialism on the region and the enduring neocolonial domination after flag independence, what these countries are doing to continue to defend themselves against the threat of terrorism in the region, what their paths of sovereign economic development is starting to look like, the role of Russia and China in these countries, what the rest of Africa and the global South can learn from the AES, and where the AES fits in the vision of Pan-Africanism. Mikaela Nhondo Erskog is a researcher and editor at the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and co-coordinates the Tricontinental Pan-Africa office. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University. She is a member of Pan-Africanism Today Secretariat, which coordinates the regional articulation of the International People's Assembly. She is also part of the No Cold War coordination committee, a peace platform promoting multipolarity and maximum global cooperation. The Sahel Seeks Sovereignty (Tricontinental): https://thetricontinental.org/dossier-sahel-alliance-sovereignty/Le Sahel (latest news on Niger and AES - French language): https://www.lesahel.org/ 'Is Homosexuality 'Un-African'?' (Tricontinental): https://thetricontinental.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ink000013_interventions-2_is-homosexuality-unafrican_web.pdf Queer Imperialism Article (Journal of Intl Solidarity): https://intlsolidarity.substack.com/p/queer-imperialism-the-highest-stage 'The Actuality of Red Africa' (Mikaela Erskog & Vijay Prashad): https://monthlyreview.org/articles/the-actuality-of-red-africa/ The 80th Anniversary of the Victory in the World Anti-Fascist War (Tricontinental): https://thetricontinental.org/the-80th-anniversary-of-the-victory-in-the-world-anti-fascist-war/ Journal of International Solidarity Links Patreon: https://patreon.com/internationalsolidaritypodcast/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/journalofintlsolidarity/ Substack: https://intlsolidarity.substack.com/

    1h 30m
  2. Anti-Imperialism in a Multipolar World: Lessons from V.I. Lenin and M.N. Roy (Pranay Somayajula & Ashwin Shantha)

    12/28/2025

    Anti-Imperialism in a Multipolar World: Lessons from V.I. Lenin and M.N. Roy (Pranay Somayajula & Ashwin Shantha)

    In this episode, Pranay and I look back at the debate that took place at the Communist International in 1920 between Lenin and Indian Communist M.N. Roy on the national and colonial question. At its heart, the debate sought to figure out what form the struggle for national liberation could take in the colonies as part of a world revolution, and especially, what role the indigenous bourgeoisie would play in this national liberation struggle. In the first half of the episode, we go through Lenin’s and M.N. Roy’s positions on the national question, we look at where there are overlaps, and where there are differences. In the second half of the episode, we fast forward just over a century and explore the resonances of this debate in our current moment, specifically as they relate to China and Palestine. Pranay Somayajula is an Indian-American writer, researcher, and political educator whose work focuses on the structures of global imperialism, as well as questions of decolonization, internationalism, and anti-imperialist resistance—both historically and in the present day. He is a PhD student in Political Science at the University of Minnesota, specializing in political theory and international relations from a Third World Marxist perspective, and is the host of the podcast Return to Bandung. Pranay’s writing has appeared in numerous outlets including Protean, Jacobin, and Monthly Review, as well as on his Substack blog, culture shock. Return to Bandung podcast: https://www.returntobandung.com/ Pranay's Substack - Culture Shock: https://www.culture-shock.xyz/ Journal of International Solidarity Links Patreon: https://patreon.com/internationalsolidaritypodcast/  Instagram: https://instagram.com/journalofintlsolidarity/  Substack: https://intlsolidarity.substack.com/  Youtube: https://youtube.com/@journalofintlsolidarity/

    1h 27m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

A podcast that explores current affairs and history relating to imperialism, the global south, gender, political economy, and people-to-people ties

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